Children's home run by Future In Mind Limited in Bolton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 1 SC431315 Registered provider: Future in Mind Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living at the home at the time of this inspection. The child spoke with the inspector during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 5 December 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/12/2023 Full Good 24/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/02/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During this inspection period, there were two children living in the home. A decision was made to move one of the children to another of the company’s homes. This was because they were experiencing instability due to an increase in incidents involving the other child living there. Through careful planning, the child who moved on has been provided with a more settled environment along with a familiar member of staff to ensure continuity of care. This has contributed to stability for both the child who moved on and the child who continues to live in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is safe, welcoming and well presented. The child’s personality is reflected in the decor and artwork displayed. There have been numerous incidents of damage being caused to the home; however, this is rectified and repaired quickly. This helps the child to feel valued and maintains their sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is cared for by a dedicated team. Staff respond with compassion, empathy and care. This has supported the child to build positive relationships with all the adults that care for them. These relationships have contributed to a sense of safety, and this has enabled the child to begin to share and reflect on traumatic experiences. The manager and staff cope well with all eventualities and respond dynamically to meet the child’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager recognises her role in advocating for the child’s health needs. This has led to positive changes in the child’s emotional health. Although the company has its own therapeutic programme, it has sourced external alternatives when this has been the child’s preference. The child is engaging in therapy for the first time, and this is helping them to better understand themselves and their experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff complete purposeful pieces of work with children. They use visual representations to bring learning to life. For example, staff have created a learning opportunity through caring for plants. The child enjoyed showing the inspector this activity during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child makes progress as a result of the care they receive. After a significant period of educational challenges, the child is now having a positive experience of education. Despite this being a long process, the right provision has now been identified. The child now has future aspirations. Staff show encouragement and interest, and this helps to keep the child motivated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys a range of social, cultural and community-based activities. This has included trips to fun parks, ice skating lessons, sharing in others’ cultural beliefs and educational trips. The registered manager and staff understand the importance of giving children valuable and memorable experiences. The child told the inspector that they Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 4 were helped by staff to overcome their anxieties about visiting a big city. Such activities and experiences help to boost the child’s confidence and self-esteem while having fun and building positive memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff do not yet consistently use non-stigmatising language in the child’s records that reflects the therapeutic ethos of the home. For example, institutionalised language such as ‘contact’ is used instead of ‘family time’. The manager has recognised this shortfall, and training is scheduled to support improvements in this area.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children are safer because the manager and staff have an excellent understanding of the risks posed to and from the child. Risk assessments and safer care plans provide clear direction to staff, which they follow. There is forward thinking in terms of risk and some excellent examples of working with other agencies to reduce and manage risks to children. During the inspection, there was evidence of strong partnership working with the local police community support officer, who provided positive feedback about the responses of the manager and staff. Staff have called the police to the home since the last inspection. However, this has been used as a last resort and to safeguard the child and staff.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The child receives very good support to come to terms with and manage difficult feelings. More importantly, the child has developed relationships within which they feel safe to explore worries and concerns. This has helped one child to understand the risks of self-harm and feel safe to talk to staff about their experiences.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff manage challenging and risky situations effectively. They respond well when the child harms themselves and provide caring and attentive support. Staff work closely with a range of safeguarding and health professionals to regularly review risk. As a result, incidents of self-harm are well managed, and there are longer periods between them.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When the child is missing from the home, staff respond proactively and work collaboratively with safeguarding agencies. Detailed records are completed. Through these proactive approaches, staff find out where children are and take steps to keep them safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When staff use physical intervention, this is necessary for the child’s safety and well- being. Staff follow the child’s plans and use their understanding of the child to try and reduce situations in which the child needs to be held. Managers speak to the child and staff following incidents to gain their views, and they use this information to inform learning for future practice.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When allegations are made against staff, action is taken to safeguard children. However, on one occasion, there was an oversight from the manager. An opportunity was missed to contact the local authority designated officer and ensure additional scrutiny when staff Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 5 practice compromised the safety of the child. The manager has reflected on this, and they had taken appropriate action otherwise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is also the registered manager of another of the organisation’s homes. The manager is present in the home as needed. She is supported by a committed and experienced deputy manager. The managers are closely involved in the child’s life and are invested in supporting their progress. The child has positive relationships with the managers and trusts that they would respond to any of their worries or concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a stable, consistent team of staff that provides continuity for the child. The reliance and commitment of the staff are commendable. They do not give up on children. A commitment to unconditional positive regard means the child receives excellent support from staff who are caring and responsive. Staff said they love working at the home and talk positively about the child’s strengths and potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child is listened to through a variety of methods, including planned sessions, general chats and family meetings. Although the child has not wanted to access advocacy support, those caring for the child advocate for them well. When the child makes complaints, these are responded to in a child-focused way, and the child is kept informed throughout the process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works well with other professionals, such as social workers and teachers. When an incident occurred during the inspection, there was a thorough approach to sharing information so that the child was well supported and could access emotional support as needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular training and supervision. Staff are equipped with the skills to understand and respond to the child’s individual needs. However, supervision does not always provide enough opportunity for reflection, learning and development. This is a missed opportunity to support staff to evaluate, improve and enhance their practice when caring for children with complex needs and risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses a range of quality assurance tools and monitoring systems. However, shortfalls were identified in the quality and oversight of written records. Some records reviewed lacked clarity and detail, and professional curiosity is not well evidenced. A recommendation is made to support improvement in this area. Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Future in Mind Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Future in Mind, 65 Market Street, Hednesford, Cannock, Staffordshire WS12 1AD

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Carina McLean-Armstrong

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Inspector

Natasha Skinner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 8 and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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